Author: Reg Roberts

From the period 2000-2009, eighteen different men have worn either the Wallaby Number Eleven or Fourteen jerseys in a test match. Interestingly eight of these were  also on the fullback list (Julian Huxley and James O’Connor being the only two fullbacks NOT to start a test on the wing). So, our noughty wingers were: Lote Tuqiri (51 starts on the wing); Wendell Sailor (29); Joe Roff (28); Drew Mitchell (20); Mark Gerrard (17); Clyde Rathbone (16); Peter Hynes (15); Stirling Mortlock            (14); Lachlan Turner (11); Ben Tune (6); Andrew Walker (5); Chris Latham (5); Digby Ione (4); Adam Ashley-Cooper (4);…

From the period 2000-2009, ten different men (perhaps nine men and a boy) have worn the Wallaby Number Fifteen jersey in a test match. They are: Chris Latham (57 starts at fullback); Adam Ashley-Cooper (17); Matt Burke (14); Matt Rogers (9); James O’Connor (7); Drew Mitchell (6); Julian Huxley (6); Joe Roff (4); Cameron Shepherd (2); Stirling Mortlock (1) Now our task at G&GR was to come up with the three leading candidates for the Wallaby Team of the Decade.  How do we do this? Well we did it as simply by looking at their performances in this position and…

What a tremendous end to the season, both for the Wallabies and for this competition. Those who have been following the points tally may well be aware that the competition came down to the very last test against Wales. As a reminder, after every test of the season Green and Gold Rugby readers at the forum assigned 3-2-1 points to their top three Wallaby performers per game. These points were then tallied each game with an ultimate top three players, a Man of the Match and two runners up, being decided.  This award is the accumulation of those points. All…

And so the year has drawn to a close.  The Spring Tour has been a disapointing expedition for the Wallabies.   As for the players? We have seen the emergence of some wonderful young players this tour. Quade Cooper, Digby Ioane, Dean Mumm, Benn Robinson, Will Genia, David Pocock and Ben Alexander all showed tremendous class. How will they fair in the final component of our Green & Gold Rugby Wallaby Player of the Year? Let’s jump into it and see.

Last weekend’s game against Wales was Australia’s last rugby test of the noughties. A decade ago we started our season with a 53-6 shellacking of Argentina at Ballymore and ten years later we finish with the win in Cardiff. The Argentina game saw the debut of some interesting names. Stirling Mortlock, Fletcher Dyson, David Lyons and Sam Cordingly. Unfortunately it would also be the last ever Wallaby appearance for the legend that remains, Tim Horan. As to the game itself? As the score line suggests, it was a romp. In just his seventh test, fullback Chris Latham scored four tries. …

After three successful tests against Italy and France, the Wallabies prepared themselves for the Tri-Nations series. In what would be a largely disappointing series, the Wallabies would bring home the wooden spoon, again, winning just the one game – against the World Champion Springboks in Brisbane. But who played well for the good guys? Will King George retain his place at the top of the G&GR Wallaby Player of the Year leader board? There’s only one way to find out. Read on!

The Wallabies started their 2009 test campaign against Italy in Canberra all the way back in June.  Fourteen tests and about six months later the Wallabies won less than 50% of their games.  As a whole the season was… disappointing. Bordering on disastrous. The continued failing in the Tri-Nations is a significant cause for concern. Our inability to back up good wins, such as against the Springboks in Brisbane, with another good performance is also worrying. The loss to Scotland, when you look at the rankings at least, was just unacceptable. On the plus side, gees we looked good against…

And so we reach the final test of the tour, which was actually the penultimate test 25 years ago.  This time, however, we won’t win the Grand Slam.  Hell, its more than likelywe won’t win this test. Our backs are looking ponderous and directionless. The odd break is being made, but it inevitably dies out.  The skills just look lacking as players try to overplay their hand or just plain don’t know what to do.  So let’s pause for a momnet and review highlights of the famous Welsh test way back in 1984:

Ok, so we are a little out of order here as the 84 Grand Slammers played Scotland last, whereas this year’s lot play them in the penultimate test on tour.  But change is good, so let’s work with it. This next try is one of my all time favourites, so let’s get into it. Enjoy the full highlights, and there are many in this game – Slack’s pass to Campo’s first try is a ripper; Mark Ella’s try, for his own Grand Slam of tries, was special; Nick Farr-Jones’s snipe down the front of the lineout;  but I love this…

As with this tour, the second test on the 1984 Grand Slam tour was against Ireland, in Dublin.  The Irish would be different opponents from the Poms with a greater battle at the breakdown expected. Accordingly Alan Jones opted to play Chris Roche along side Simon Poidevin in the backrow, to have dual open-sides.  It was another try-less first half as Australia went to the break 3-0 up thanks to a Michael Lynagh drop goal. In the second half Mark Ella also dropped a goal to give the Wallabies a six point lead.  Three quick penalties to Ireland soon had…

The first half of this game was scrappy as both teams seemed to push to hard to turn position into points. Drop goal attempts went wide and the score at the break was all tied up at three apiece. Not too long after the kick off to the second half, we eventually find ourselves (as in the Wallabies) with a scrum 5m out from the try line in a great position. To see how we got into this position, check out the video below from about 2:36 to see the class that is Brendan Moon.

Five changes to the Wallaby starting team, four to the backline, is the notable news in today’s team announcement. But its the ommission of George Smith, picked on the bench, that will cause most dicussion. Is it a dropping? Is it a resting? Rotation? Reward? A sign of things to come? Robbie only knows. The backrow of Palu, Elsom and Pocock does seem better balanced, but will need to up its work rate, along with the rest of the pack, to compete with an All Black team that blew them off the part at their last meeting.

Coming quickly on the back of the Victorian born Ewen McKenzie appointment as the new coach of the Queensland Reds, the QRU appointed another Victorian to a key position. Jim Carmichael, 49, will start as the new CEO early next month and comes to the organisation from the AFL in Melbourne.  Not much can be garnered about Carmichael from the internet, but plenty can about the AFL.  They are the most proactive and forward thinking sporting organisation in the nation by a country mile.  All the stakeholders seem to read from the same song sheet and the sport is moving…

The much vaunted 25th anniversary of the Grand Slam tour gets under way with a ‘meaningless’ fourth test against the All Blacks in Tokyo. Add to this a couple of scrounged together midweek games for the dirt trackers and the tour gives us seven games, five of which are test matches. Does this justify a 35 member playing squad? I dread to think how many support personnel are traveling as well. The original grand slam squad of 1984 numbered 32 with a few injury additions, but they had to play 18 games, including the tour ending Barbarians encounter. With the…

Robbie Deans, and his selectors, have named a number of new faces in the 43 man Wallaby training squad in preparation for the Grand Slam tour later this year.  Perhaps the most notable rookie is scrumhalf Richard Kingi of the Queensland Reds who only last week signed an Academy contract with the QRU. Other un-capped players are Kurtley Beale (flyhalf, Waratahs), Nick Cummins (wing, Force); Rob Horne  (Centre, Waratahs); Mitchell Chapman (backrow/lock, Brumbies); Ben McCalman (backrow/lock; unsigned); Dave Dennis (lock/backrow, Waratahs); Salesi Ma’afu (prop, Brumbies) and Damien Fitzpatrick (hooker, Waratahs). The uncapped players are joined by returning Wallabies back in favour…

Each week the members of our forum cast their 3-2-1 votes to contribute to the prestigious Green and Gold Rugby Wallaby of the Year. The weekly Man of the Match, for each test so far, are revealed below, while the 2’s and 1’s are kept hidden for now to maintain the mystery. Current Standings for G&GR Wallaby of the Year The previous Man of the Match awards can be found here.

Robbie Deans: Hi lads, thanks so much for coming on such short notice. Chris Hickey: No problems Robbie. Andy Friend: The Brumbies are glad to have the opportunity. John Mitchell: Yes, Robbie, just like old times hey? But seriously, I just want to say what an honour it is for me, I mean for all of us, to be here today.  It’s a wonderful example of your inclusivity when it comes to Australian Rugby and I think we are all just so lucky to have you here at our disposal. AF: Woah. You kiss anymore arse there Mitch and we’ll…

The Wallabies’s comprehensive 21-6 win over the World Champion Springboks on the weekend is all the vindication needed to support coach Robbie Dean’s tactic of “play  what’s in front of you”.  The Wallabies were superb in all aspects of play and many pundits about town have put the performance down to the team’s ability to play more instinctively. Whilst the Australians were able to make numerous line breaks, and were over the line at least five times, it was the defence of the team that really sealed the win. The  Wallabies were able put immense pressure on the Boks through repeated…

Aussie D asked the question, at the Green & Gold Rugby forum, as to who should be the Wallaby captain to take us to the 2011 Rugby World Cup.  It is a timely  question,  now just a little over 24 months until the big event, and a vital one.  If there is one thing that has typified all RWC Champions so far, it is strong leadership.  David Kirk (1987), Nick Farr-Jones (1991), Francois Pienaar (1995), John Eales (1999), Martin Johnson (2003) and John Smit (2007) were/are all very assured leaders and vital cogs to their teams’ success. Whilst I never want us…

Robbie Deans and his selection panel (whomever they are) have made four changes to the Wallaby starting team  for their match up against the World Champion Springboks this weekend in Perth. Injuries to Berrick Barnes and Nathan Sharpe have seen the recall of Ryan Cross and Mark Chisholm to the side.  Cross has snagged the 13 jersey with last week’s outside centre, Adam Ashley-Cooper, moving in one spot to inside centre.  Chisholm, after injury shortened his Super 14 season, returns to the starting side and will lead the Wallaby line out. The other changes see Brumbies prop Ben Alexander replace…